TWO mothers who have been appealing for the public’s assistance to save their children were given a donation by employees of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) on Friday after the women’s problems were highlighted by the Express.

Arlene Lendor and Gillian Thompson were each given $8,225 by the workers who collected the money after two days of gathering donations from fellow employees.

The three WASA workers, Akidou Ramsahai, David George and Neil Bridgemohan presented the women with the money at Express House, Port of Spain on Friday and called on the other utility companies to do the same.

Lendor is the mother of nine-year-old Hanna Lendor who was diagnosed with an advanced stage of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome caused by liver cirrhosis due to probable Autoimmune Hepatitis during a visit to a hospital to Caracas, Venezuela earlier this year.

Hanna left school at the standard one level at the Moulton Hall Methodist School, Port of Spain, due to her illness.

Hanna fell ill with what was thought to be the common cold, however, after a month, her mother was called in to her school because the child’s teachers noticed her fingers and her lips were turning blue.

Lendor underwent a series of tests including three HIV tests, liver and kidney tests, a lung examination, an echocardiogram and a CAT scan.

She is in need of a liver transplant costing $1.3 million.

Anyone wishing to help the child can make a donation to account number 8917113188 at any branch of RBTT Bank.

Thompson is the mother of Kelly Ann Drayton, who is suffering with Biliary Atresia which is the congenital absence or closure of the ducts that drain bile from the liver.

It is a progressive inflammatory process that begins soon after birth.

White blood cells invade the ducts, which become damaged and may wither or completely disappear.

Bile is trapped inside the liver and rapidly causes damage and scarring to the liver cells.

Drayton, who celebrated her first birthday on October 13, is also in need of a liver transplant that would be done at a cost of US$11,000.

Anyone wishing to assist Drayton can call 795-6235.